Multibarrel automatic weapon

ABSTRACT

A &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;Gatling&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; type gun is provided with a single actuator rod for intermittently driving a plurality of bolts.

United States Patent Patenaude et al.

[ MULTIBARREL AUTOMATIC WEAPON Inventors: Raymond Arthur Patenaude; Ivar Scott Tonseth, Jr., both of Burlington, Vt.

Assignee: General Electric Company, Burlington, Vt.

Filed: Apr. 17, 1973 Appl. No.: 351,987

US. Cl. 89/12, 89/33 CA, 89/190 Int. Cl. F4ld 7/04 Field of Search 89/1 L, 9, ll, l2, 13,

89/33 BC, 33 CA, 190

[ 1 Sept. 10,1974

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 199,915 2/1878 Leland 89/12 1,290,842 l/l9l9 Mottin 89/11 1,386,872 8/1921 Hudson 89/11 3,060,809 lO/l962 Tschumi 89/33 BC Primary Examiner-Samuel W. Engle Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Bailin L. Kuch [5 7] ABSTRACT A Gatling type gun is provided with a single actuator rod for intermittently driving a plurality of bolts.

14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENTEDSEH 01974 SHED 2 OF 4 fill g vs mow mwm PATEN TED SEP 1 01974 SHEET 3 OF 4 MULTIBARREL AUTOMATIC WEAPON FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automatic weapons having a plurality of gun barrels mounted for rotation about a common axis.

PRIOR ART The classic revolving battery gun is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 125,563 issued to R. .l. Gatling on Apr. 9, 1872. This gun had a stationary housing, and a rotor assembly journaled within the housing having 10 gun barrels and 10 reciprocating bolts. The housing had an internal cam which reciprocated the bolts, and the functioning of the bolts was responsive to the angular rotation of the rotor assembly relative to the housing. Rounds of ammunition were loosely fed by gravity from a hopper through a throat to the bolts. An improved hopper was disclosed by L. F. Bruce in U.S. Pat. No. 247,158 issued Sept. 20, 1881. Belted ammunition was disclosed by F. L. Bailey in U.S. Pat. No. 173.751 issued Feb. 22, 1876, and belted ammunition for Gatling" guns was disclosed by C. M. Broderick et al. in

U.S. Pat. No. 504,516 issued Sept. 5, 1893. Positive linkless feeding for a Gatling gun was disclosed by J. G. Accles in U.S. Pat. No. 290,622 issued Apr. 22, 1890. A hybrid Gatling gun was disclosed by F. Bangerter in U.S. Pat. No. 1,424,751 issued Aug. 8, 1922, wherein belted ammunition was sequentially preloaded into an endless chain of chambers, which in turn were sequentially aligned with the barrels for firing. The first modern Gatling gun was disclosed by H. McOtto in U.S. Pat. No. 2,849,921 issued Sept. 2, 1958. Now, conventionally, Gatling guns are either fed directly with belted ammunition and the rounds are stripped of links as they enter the gun by a feeder-stripper of the type disclosed by R. W. Henshaw et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 3,333,506 issued Aug. 1, 1967, or are fed with linkless ammunition by an endless conveyor of the type shown by R. G. Kirkpatrick in U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,221 issued Feb. 24, 1969, from a drum storage of the type shown by E. W. Panicci et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 2,993,415 issued July 25,1961.

It is an object of this invention to provide a Gatling type gun utilizing belted ammunition but not requiring a feeder therefor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a gun having a relatively small profile and a lightweight construction.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a Gatling" type gun having a single actuator rod for intermittently driving a plurality of bolts.

Another feature of this invention is the provision of a Gatling type gun utilizing belted ammunition wherein the rounds are rammed out of push-through carriers directly into the gun barrel chambers, and the fired cases, after extraction, are returned into the respective carriers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the essentials of a three barrel gun embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the crank arm drive for the bolts of the gun of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section of the gun of FIG. 1; taken along plane III-III of FIG. 5;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the gun of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is an end view, looking aft, of the gun of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse view, looking aft, of the gun of FIG. 3, taken along the plane VIVI;

FIG. 7 is a transverse view, looking aft, of the gun of FIG. 3, taken along the plane VIIVII;

FIG. 8 is a transverse view, looking aft, of the gun of FIG. 3, taken along the plane VIII-VIII, showing the rotor rotated 60 from the showing of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal detail of the cam track in the housing for the actuator rod of the gun of FIG. 4, taken along the plane IX-IX;

FIG. 10 is a detail of the bolt locking mechanism of the gun of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 11 is a transverse view, looking aft, of the bolt of FIG. 10, taken along the plane XI-XI.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The gun embodying this invention comprises a stationary housing 10 having a rotor assembly 12 mounted on bearings 14, I6, and attachment points 18 for recoil adapters 19. Three barrels 20, 22, and 24 are removably secured to the forward end of the rotor 26, and a gear 28 is fixed on the aft end of the rotor. An electric motor 30 is fixed to the housing and, via a clutch 32, drives a shaft 34, journalled in bearings 36, 38 to the housing, to which is fixed a gear 40. The gear 40 is meshed with a gear 42 which is fixed on a shaft 44, journalled in bearings 46, 48 to the housing, and which gear is also meshed with the rotor gear 28.

The housing has an aft extension 50 having a hanger 52 with a bushing 54 which journals a shaft 56, to which is fixed a bevel gear 58, which gear is meshed with a bevel gear 60, which gear is fixed to the shaft 44. The shaft 56 is integral with a crank arm 62 which has a stud 64. A link 66 is journalled at its aft end to the stud 64 and at its forward end to a pin 67 in the aft end of a bolt actuator rod support 68. The forward end of the rod support has a longitudinal blind bore 70 therein and an intersecting, transverse slot 72 therein. The rod support 68 carries a bolt actuator rod 74. The aft end of the rod 74 is formed as a stub shaft 76 which is received into the bore 70. A cam follower cross pin 78 is disposed through the transverse slot 72 in the rod support, through a transverse bore 80 in the stub shaft 76 and into a cam slot 82 formed into the wall 84 of the guide slot 86 of the housing 10. The cam slot 82 provides a rotation of 20 ofthe bolt actuator rod through the last 60" of rotation of the crank arm 62 which is the forward end of the stroke of the actuator rod.

The forward end 88 of the actuator rod 74 has a circumferential groove 90 to engage a respective tang 92 which is provided on each of the gun bolt assemblies. Three gun bolt assemblies 94, 96 and 98 are provided, one respectively for each gun barrel 20, 22 and 24 having respective bores 94', 96 and 98. Each bolt assembly is disposed in and reciprocates in a respective slot 100, 102, 104 in the rotor 26, to chamber and fire the cartridges and to extract the empty cases. Each bolt has a conventional extractor lip 106, and a conventional percussion, cam operated, firing pin assembly, not

shown. The circumferential groove 90 of the extractor rod 74 is interrupted by top and bottom longitudinal grooves 108, 110 to permit the respective bolt tang to enter or leave the circumferential driving groove 90 when the actuator rod has rotated through its full Rounds of ammunition are provided to the bolts via a belt of resilient links or conveyor elements. In the embodiment shown, each round is carried by a resilient C-shaped sleeve 112 having two ears 114. A wire loop 116 of rectangular configuration couples adjacent ears of adjacent sleeves. The belt passes directly into the housing of the gun, between guide 11% engaging the extractor groove of the case, guides 120, 122 abuting the cylinder of the case, guides 124-, 126 abuting the neck of the case, and guide 128 abuting the projectile, with the guides 122, 12 1, 126 also serving to align the sleeve 112; around the rotor 26 with the rounds disposed in the slots 100, 102, 104; and then out of the housing, past a symmetrical set of guides. The belt is wrapped around the rotor with the opening of the C towards the rotor to permit passage of the bolt tang. During feeding, the bolt strips the round from its sleeve by entering the sleeve itself and pushing the round longitudinally out from the sleeve and into the respective chamber of the gun barrel. During firing the sleeve remains aroung the bolt. During extraction, the bolt pulls the fired case back into the sleeve and itself withdraws from the sleeve.

The gun cycle may be examined by 60 segments of rotation ofthe rotor, during which the bolt actuator rod effects the following functions:

1 During its first forward stroke, the actuator rod rams the first bolt; while the third bolt is in forward dwell and firing; and the second bolt is in aft dwell;

2. During its first aftward stroke, the actuator rod extracts the third bolt; while the first bolt is in front dwell and firing; and the second bolt is still in aft dwell;

3. During its second forward stroke, the actuator rod rams the second bolt; while the first bolt is still in front dwell; and the third bolt is in aft dwell;

4. During its second aftward stroke, the actuator rod extracts the first bolt; while the second bolt is in front dwell and firing; and the third bolt is still in aft dwell;

5. During its third forward stroke the actuator rod rams the third bolt; while the second bolt is still in front dwell; and the first bolt is in aft dwell; and

6. During its third aftward stroke the actuator rod extracts the second bolt; while the third bolt is in front dwell and firing; and the first bolt is still in aft dwell.

Each bolt is locked in front dwell for firing by a pair of locking lugs 130 which are respectively pivoted at 132, and have an arm 1341 carrying a cam following roller 136 which rides in a cam track 138 in the housing 10, and are cammed into respective recesses 140 in the sides of the bolt behind the head of the bolt. During unlock, the lugs are cammed into respective pockets 142 in the aftward extension 144 of the barrel.

While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in the form and arrangement of parts and in the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A gun comprising:

a housing.

a rotor journalled for rotation within said housing about a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of gun barrels disposed in a circular row about said longitudinal axis;

a like plurality of gun bolts, each cooperating with a respective gun barrel;

a single actuator rod; and

control means coupled to said housing, said rotor and said actuator rod for sequentially interengaging said actuator rod with each of said gun bolts for loading and chambering each of said gun bolts in turn.

2. A gun according to claim 1 wherein:

said gun has at least three gun barrels and gun bolts, and during a gun cycle said single actuator rod is reciprocated fore and aft and interengaged with the gun bolts by said control means as follows:

during its first forward stroke, said actuator rod rams the first bolt, while the third bolt is in forward dwell and firing, and the second bolt is in aft dwell;

during its first aftward stroke, said actuator rod extracts said third bolt, while said first bolt is in front dwell and firing, and said second bolt is still in aft dwell;

during its second forward stroke, said actuator rod rams said second bolt, while said first bolt is still in front dwell, and said third bolt is off dwell;

during its second aftward stroke, said actuator rod extracts said first bolt, while said second bolt is in front dwell and firing, and said third bolt is still in aft dwell;

during its third forward stroke said actuator rod rams said third bolt, while said second bolt is still in front dwell, and said first bolt in in aft dwell; and

during its third aftward stroke said actuator rod extracts said second bolt, while said third bolt is in front dwell and firing, and said first bolt is still in aft dwell.

3. A gun comprising:

a housing;

a rotor assembly journalled for rotation within said housing about a longitudinal axis; said rotor assembly including a plurality of gun barrels,

a like plurality of gun bolts, each aligned with, and guided for reciprocation with respect to, a respective gun barrel, and

a central bore;

a single actuator rod disposed for reciprocation within said central bore of said rotor assembly;

first means for reciprocating said actuating rod;

second means for rotating said rotor assembly; third means for sequentially interengaging said actuator rod with each of said gun bolts, for causing said gun bolt to reciprocate with said actuator rod. 4. A gun according to claim 3 wherein: said first means comprises a crank arm. 5. A gun according to claim 3 wherein; said third means comprises:

each of said gun bolts having a respective projection disposed within said central bore of said rotor assembly;

said actuator rod having an annular groove in its forward end, intersected by a plurality of longitudinal grooves, said grooves for receiving and passing said projections of said gun bolts.

6. A gun according to claim 5 wherein:

said third means further comprises:

said actuator rod being journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis; 1

a cam and follower assembly intercoupling said actuator rod and said housing for causing said actuator rod to rotate in one direction during a portion of its forward travel and to rotate in the other direction during a portion of its aftward travel.

7. A gun according to claim 3 further including:

a chain of ammunition carriers passing around said rotor;

said first, second and third means cooperating for sequentially traversing each of said bolts through a respective carrier into its forward-most position, said bolt remaining in said carrier while in its forwardmost position.

8. A gun according to claim 5 further including:

a chain of ammunition carriers passing around said rotor,

each of said carriers being of C-shaped cross-section provided by a partial annulus interrupted by a gap and is disposed in sequence on said rotor assembly in alignment with a respective gun barrel and with said gap of the C adjacent said central bore of said rotor assembly for passing a respective gun bolt through said carrier with said respective projection of said gun bolt passing through said gap of said carrier into said central bore of said rotor assembly.

9. A gun according to claim 8 wherein:

each of said carriers carries a round of cased ammunition;

said first, second and third means cooperating for sequentially traversing each of said gun bolts through a respective carrier to feed the respective round to the respective gun bolt and then further forward to chamber the respective round in the respective barrel, the respective gun bolt remaining within the respective carrier while the respective round is fired.

10. A gun according to claim 9 wherein:

after the respective round has been fired the respective gun bolt is withdrawn from the respective car rier to replace the case of the respective fired round in the respective carrier.

11. A gun according to claim 5 wherein:

said respective projection on each of said gun bolts is a first tang; and

said forward end of said actuator rod has at least a pair of longitudinally spaced apart second tangs for receiving a first tang therebetween.

12. A gun according to claim 5 wherein:

said actuator rod has two pairs of said second tangs, said pairs being transversely spaced apart by 13. A gun according to claim 3 further including:

fourth means for accelerating the interengagement of said actuator rod with each of said gun bolts.

14. A gun according to claim 3 further including:

fifth means for locking and unlocking each of said gun bolts. 

1. A gun comprising: a housing; a rotor journalled for rotation within said housing about a longitudinal axis and having a plurality of gun barrels disposed in a circular row about said longitudinal axis; a like plurality of gun bolts, each cooperating with a respective gun barrel; a single actuator rod; and control means coupled to said housing, said rotor and said actuator rod for sequentially interengaging said actuator rod with each of said gun bolts for loading and chambering each of said gun bolts in turn.
 2. A gun according to claim 1 wherein: said gun has at least three gun barrels and gun bolts, and during a gun cycle said single actuator rod is reciprocated fore and aft and interengaged with the gun bolts by said control means as follows: during its first forward stroke, said actuator rod rams the first bolt, while the third bolt is in forward dwell and firing, and the secoNd bolt is in aft dwell; during its first aftward stroke, said actuator rod extracts said third bolt, while said first bolt is in front dwell and firing, and said second bolt is still in aft dwell; during its second forward stroke, said actuator rod rams said second bolt, while said first bolt is still in front dwell, and said third bolt is off dwell; during its second aftward stroke, said actuator rod extracts said first bolt, while said second bolt is in front dwell and firing, and said third bolt is still in aft dwell; during its third forward stroke said actuator rod rams said third bolt, while said second bolt is still in front dwell, and said first bolt in in aft dwell; and during its third aftward stroke said actuator rod extracts said second bolt, while said third bolt is in front dwell and firing, and said first bolt is still in aft dwell.
 3. A gun comprising: a housing; a rotor assembly journalled for rotation within said housing about a longitudinal axis; said rotor assembly including a plurality of gun barrels, a like plurality of gun bolts, each aligned with, and guided for reciprocation with respect to, a respective gun barrel, and a central bore; a single actuator rod disposed for reciprocation within said central bore of said rotor assembly; first means for reciprocating said actuating rod; second means for rotating said rotor assembly; third means for sequentially interengaging said actuator rod with each of said gun bolts, for causing said gun bolt to reciprocate with said actuator rod.
 4. A gun according to claim 3 wherein: said first means comprises a crank arm.
 5. A gun according to claim 3 wherein: said third means comprises: each of said gun bolts having a respective projection disposed within said central bore of said rotor assembly; said actuator rod having an annular groove in its forward end, intersected by a plurality of longitudinal grooves, said grooves for receiving and passing said projections of said gun bolts.
 6. A gun according to claim 5 wherein: said third means further comprises: said actuator rod being journalled for rotation about said longitudinal axis; a cam and follower assembly intercoupling said actuator rod and said housing for causing said actuator rod to rotate in one direction during a portion of its forward travel and to rotate in the other direction during a portion of its aftward travel.
 7. A gun according to claim 3 further including: a chain of ammunition carriers passing around said rotor; said first, second and third means cooperating for sequentially traversing each of said bolts through a respective carrier into its forward-most position, said bolt remaining in said carrier while in its forwardmost position.
 8. A gun according to claim 5 further including: a chain of ammunition carriers passing around said rotor, each of said carriers being of C-shaped cross-section provided by a partial annulus interrupted by a gap and is disposed in sequence on said rotor assembly in alignment with a respective gun barrel and with said gap of the C adjacent said central bore of said rotor assembly for passing a respective gun bolt through said carrier with said respective projection of said gun bolt passing through said gap of said carrier into said central bore of said rotor assembly.
 9. A gun according to claim 8 wherein: each of said carriers carries a round of cased ammunition; said first, second and third means cooperating for sequentially traversing each of said gun bolts through a respective carrier to feed the respective round to the respective gun bolt and then further forward to chamber the respective round in the respective barrel, the respective gun bolt remaining within the respective carrier while the respective round is fired.
 10. A gun according to claim 9 wherein: after the respective round has been fired the respective gun bolt is withdrawn from the resPective carrier to replace the case of the respective fired round in the respective carrier.
 11. A gun according to claim 5 wherein: said respective projection on each of said gun bolts is a first tang; and said forward end of said actuator rod has at least a pair of longitudinally spaced apart second tangs for receiving a first tang therebetween.
 12. A gun according to claim 5 wherein: said actuator rod has two pairs of said second tangs, said pairs being transversely spaced apart by 180*.
 13. A gun according to claim 3 further including: fourth means for accelerating the interengagement of said actuator rod with each of said gun bolts.
 14. A gun according to claim 3 further including: fifth means for locking and unlocking each of said gun bolts. 